Apparatus for separating and concentrating granular mixtures



H. B. CANNON Nov. 6, 195`6 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND CONCENTRATINGGRANULAR MIXTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 17, 1954 INVENTOA HARRY B.CANNGN HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent() APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ANDCONCEN- TRATING GRANULAR MIXTURES Harry B. Cannon, Lakeland, Fia.

Application November 17, 1954, Serial No. 469,414

8 Claims. (Cl. 209-493) This invention relates to an improved apparatusfor separating granular mixtures into constituent components by gravityinduced stratification. More particularly, this invention is concernedwith an improved pinched sluicetype separator for stratifying liquidslurries of ores into separated strata, one of which contains the majorportion of a valuable mineral, another of which contains very little, ifany, valuable mineral, and a third of which contains suicient valuablemineral to warrant reprocessing. Specifically, the instant inventioncomprisesA an improvement over the separator arrangement set forth in mycopending application, S. N. 297,952, led July 9, 1952.

As will be more readily appreciated by reference to said copendingapplication, the novel slurry separator therein described has been foundexceedingly effective for concentrating valuable minerals such asilmenite, rutile, Zircon, cassiterite and the like from heavymineralbearing sands. The new arrangement therein disclosed employs aplurality of inclined pinched sluices, each having a relatively broadinlet mouth and a relatively narrow outlet between converging sidewalls`and through which ore in the form of a liquid slurry is owed to becomestratified according to density. In addition, slurry splitter means areassociated with the pinched sluices beyond the outlets for the purposeof positively splitting the stratified slurry as it emerges from thesluice into a zone of free fall beyond the outlets whereby the severalportions of the slurry comprising the concentrates, the middlings andthe tailings are wholly separated. A particularly advantageous featureof the aforesaid invention is the grouping of the plurality of pinchedsluice separator units into circular array to form a composite separatorof frusto-conical conguration in which the individual pinched sluicesappear as spokes of a wheel, and the slurry splitter means is acentrally located funnel-shapedV member.

This form of separator has proven to be most effective in practice andto have substantially doubled the output capacity of a small sizeinstallation over heretofore known arrangements with a further largeincrease in the efliciency of recovery. However, the improved separatorhas not exhibited the desired degree of durability, and in effect, hasnot been as rugged as is required for the almost continuous operationexperienced in the industry. As a result, it has been necessary tofrequently replace and repair various component parts of theseseparators. In addition, the arrangement for moving the splitterelements in the free fall zone of the separators has proven unwieldlyfor the delicate adjustments required.

lAccordingly, it is a prime object of the instant invention to providean improved slurry separator of the multiple pinched-sluice type.Another object of the present invention is the provision of a separatorof multiple pinched sluice units which is very rugged and durable. Yetanother object of the instant invention is the provision of improvedcontrol means for adjusting the position of multiple slurry splitterelements. A

"ice further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedslurry splitter element for frusto-conical slurry separators. Yet afurther object of the invention is an improved wear resistant catchbasin arrangement for collecting separated portions of slurry mixtures.Other and distinct objects will become apparent from the description andclaims which follow.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the followingmore specific description and claims in connection with the annexeddrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation View, partly in section, of the improvedslurry separator with only two of the pinched sluice units illustratedfor the sake of clarity,

v Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of the control arrangementfor the slurry splitter members of the invention,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the control mechanism of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating the improved slurry collectingarrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating a Wear resistantsplitter lip construction for the collecting structure of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, of the splitter controlmechanism of Fig. 2.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings illustrating the improvementaccording to the invention, it will be seen that the instant arrangementis analogous to that more particularly described in applicants saidcopending application in that it comprises an independent,selfsustaining support arrangement 100 for mounting a plurality ofinclined pinched sluice units, specifically of the type particularlydescribed and claimed in said copending application. annular arrayhaving the general conguration of t a frustrum of a cone about acollecting structure 200. For the sake of clarity, only twodiametrically opposed pinched sluices, 320 and 340, have beenillustrated in the tlgure, butit will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art that there are a plurality of the same positionedadjacent one another about the unit 200 and supported on structure 100.

In accordance with the instant invention, the supporting structure 100is formed to be of the suspension type, and for this purpose, comprisesa plurality of upstanding radially spaced leg velements 101 connected,as by welding, to horizontal beam members 105. Although only two suchlegs are shown in the gure, it will be readily understood that three orfour may be provided to form a triangular or quadrangular base. Therespective legs 101 are reinforced as by means of cross bars 103extending between the legs and connected thereto, as by welding, 'andwhich bars support a pair of spaced L-shaped beams 106 and 10S. Beams106 and 108 in turn support a plurality of upstanding legs 110 and 112,only two being shown in the drawings but it being understood that threeor four may be employed. Legs 110 and 112 are integrally connected to anL-shaped ring or annular support structure 115 forming a rest for theinclined nosey portions of the pinched sluices. Support ring 115 isadapted to cooperate with an overlying, identically shaped clamping ring117 which is arranged to be interchangeably associated with ring 115 bymeans of removable threaded bolt members 11S. The arrangement is suchthat the upper ring 117 can be clamped over the upper surfaces of theinclined sluices 320, 340, etc., to frictionally hold the sluices in apredetermined, xed position on ring 115. To assist clamping ring 117,the respective pinched-sluice units are provided with guide anges 321,341 for abutting ring 115 and holding the sluice units at apredetermined radial point from the center of the frusto-conical array.

These units are grouped in anV mainsupport beamsY 1'05v mount av ringmember 105'V of L-shaped cross section which is bolted theretoadjustments.- Ring member 107 serves `as anouterrestfor the loading orinle't end of the pinched sluices 320, 340, etc. The beams 105 carryaiplality-of upwardly eii'tending'inclined bracket members `1219 and11'9a. Only Vtwo ofthe bracke't members are illustrated in 'the drawingsbut it will be readily understood 'that three Vor-four or morebe'provided. The bracket Vmembers 118,119, etc., are in turn integrally'joined with a further annular support 'structureif120 comprising a ringmember 122 of l.. cross section having applurality, of radallydirectedholes 1:23 Afor receiving a plurality of adjustable centering Vscrews124lfo`r a 'purpose hereinafter apparent. YV`The u'pper face of ringmember 122 Aist adapted to receiveand 'f1-ic- Y tionally ,supportexternal flange or annular bearing member 315 on a slurrydistributingf'structure 3,00. V*The slurry,'distribiitrV 300` comprisesa riser pipe '302 inte-YV Y grallyconnectedwith an enlarged diametersurge reser-V van 'sorprendenti/ith a plurality if iischarge openings306.VV The Vopenings 306 arev adaptedvto receive short Vlengths ofinclined piping, `308 V`and 310, which may be aliiiiedinthefholes tbywelding or th'e ylikea'nd which .serve as dils't'ribiitr noz'z'les fordirecting the-'liguid slurry from outof'reser'voir 304. Nozzles 308and3V10-in turnftele- Y scope into respective elongated pipeorrulberhose members 312'and 314 4eiiteiidin'g from the loading orinletends.

. member, 204 concentric with sleeve 213l and forming part Vthroughdepending slotted plates permitting several height Y Y the-arbororpivotrod 402,"as by welding, `insu'ch .manner that arcuate movement #of'rod-430 will serve to pivot control element 410 viarrod 402.

Control rods 420 andr430V eiitendto a guide and support Y bracket:structure 440 comprising an `upstan'ding leg i141 integrally connectedwith support lringY1-07 and the en-V larged base 105 and carrying aileXible slotted guide plate:

445. Plate 445 is of rectangular extent, as will be more l readilyappreciated by reference to Fig. 3, and includesV anelongated slot 446which is separatedlfinto two independentgguiding areas lby a cross baror blocking 447.' The respective controlrods 420 and 430 include bearingbosses or flanges 4'21 and 431, respectively, which l y arefadapted tolbear against the undersideof plate Y445 .in

y As shown in Fig. '3, 'handles 425 Aand 435 comprisejtlibul lar membersmounting ytransversegrip .elements 42.7 iand of the respectivepiched-slnices '320, 340, v-In.a,p-re'-ferred Y form vrof the invention,the hose members are integrallyV connected with 'molded rubber'elbows316 :and 318 vwhich direct the slurry delivered throughk thehoses intothe oiiteriend's nof the'respective sluice units. Thepositioning of thes'luic'e units and interchange of delivery conduitsis facilitatedby theVtelesc'opingconnectionbetween the nozzllesf'a'nd the'hoserfwhileYdanger-of undesired siphoning and cloggingin Vthe 'lines kisfavoided'by .the provision 4of air holes S11-'and 313infthe respective deliverynozzles. `With this arrangement, .a continuous, constant rateofdeliverymay be `readily Vo'btaixledby adjustment of the .pressureVdirecting'tlie 'sl'ur'ry up riser 302.

The innovationaccording/ to the invention contemplatesafurtherimprovementin providing arsimplied, slurry collectin'ggsplittingand control structure. Y As will be seen by'ief'erencet'o Figs. 1 and 2,surge tank orreservoirV 304 Axedly supports a depending bracket 401having'Y at itsjlower'terminal end apivotally mounted pin or .arborYYV402 fongva fulcrum'for 'aY pair of rockableY control elements 405. and44130. y Control lelements jlllfarid 41-0 are adapted' tobe'independently actuated b'y means fof a pairV i "ofi/'control levers, 420and 430, .cooperatively associated with-a guide and slippotfbracketarrangement440'carried Y by support ring'ltl'l-at one side of'theseparator structure.

. The Vcontrolelementsi405 and are adapted to selec- Ytivelyfandindependently adjust the relativevertical Vposi-V tions ,offapair of splitterelements i505 and'5`10 associated infor'efiillyAexplained.

withtlie collecting structure- 200`in-'a manner'hereinafter n T he'structure f'thesplitter-control mechanism willbe Y Vmore readilyiiriderstoodby reference to Figs.` 2 ari-dui` of(` thedrawings-illustrating'the samein enlarged views. s hfo'wn i"n"Fig.z2,Vthe respective'control elements 405 and 410V are `irlounted to s'traddlebracketllll, control element 1 Lbeing fixedly-.connected to Aarbor forVrotation Y therewith.and'controLelement 4057having bearing bosses` Y(not illustrated) 4piv'otallyY suspending element 405 -ab'out pin `402-for Yin'de'prendentVV pivotal movement. hElement 405 isfconnected-atits'lefthandend withthe tubillarcontrl Y rod 4520,` and at'iits` otherend .carriesa bifurcatedfork or. tong'fQG-hving .recessed grooves 4017-rfor receiving-radi- 'ally projecting j guide pins'd4`0'8 integrallycarried7 by an elongatedr-sleeve2i3 'of thefcollecting and slurrysplitting f structures 200. .Control 'element 410, 'on thei other xhand,

includes -an`elongated fnosefiportion 411 which Cisf'adapted toengagej-aradiallyfdirected lip;orzcollar'ZZfOna-sleeve cooperation withAdetachable -handlestZ'S and 47315 .carry-j ingf'bearing 'bosses Y426and43`6, respectively, and which j serve toclamp controlk rods 420 and-40Vin a given spatial position with respect to the stationaryv guideplate '445.

437, respectively, Sproviding a convenient means formanually graspingthe control structures to adjust'the position Y Y of the splitterelements ofY the collecting structure, as

-vvill'bemore fllyunderstood hereinafter. .The tubular handles 425 and435, as well as the'tubular'control rods 4'2'0and 430, are identicallyconstructed and each include Y an arrangemeiitas shown in Fig'. Y6.

. As therein illustrated, handle 425 Yisfprovided at'its terminal endopposite-bearing flanger426 ywith a V'threaded extension orfnorse 428.N'ose 428 is adapted to cooperate with internal threads inzthe tubularcontrol rod'42'0in Y suh manner that rotation of handle .'425 .relativeto com` trolgrod 420 -will move theQhandle towardseor away r,from

the` control-rod whereby the respective anges 421 and42`6Yarreeitherfbrought into proximity to clarnplthe.inter f Y posed.,gLiCle.A plate 445, and therebyfrictionally'lock icon--V f Vtrol krod420 in, .axedpositiorn or Vto-move further apart andfrelease control rod`420` for arcuate adjustment in,v slotV 446 optiplate 445. AIt'will-bereadily understood that .this

' sirnpliiedandrinexpensive rstructural'arrangement simul Ytaneouslyprovides a readily accessible .means vforadjusting thelvert-ical position ofA the .connected splitterJelements inra-steplessmannerfand'for Securely lockingthe elements via the-controlrod'in .a--predetermined positionj The im-z proved controlAafforded bythis" novel arrangementV be4 better understood, however, vby'reference toV Eig. 401i the'grlrawingsrillustratingfthe modifiedarrangement offth'e combi-nedlcollecting -and :slurrysplitterstructure'accord-k Yingto the invention.

jAsjshown in the ligure, collecting vst'ructi1ref2'00 fis'V positionedfabout riserfpipeA 302of the slurry distributor unit` 300 andincludes Yapair :of open .ended annularibucket members -.210-and .230.V Y Bucket210 'includesvertically directed 'concentric circularwalls21f1.212.and`2131co- Y Y operatingwithv Yannular fb aseA.plate,members ;214` -and i216, tofform `a-.lir'stvinnercollectingchamber 215. anda sec'- ond louter collectingchamber'lZZi). The yannular basek Vpla-tesf2l4andy 216 aref-joined; totherespective ycylindrical walls 'byanyfsutable-means, Ias-vforgexamplerby welding, lV E toi-provide?anjintegrated :structureThebucketrnenrber 230 'also-is yformedof1threeconcentrici sleeve membersy 231, 232 and 233 whichlare 'integrally' connected gtogetherV bymeans-ofannularbaseplates'234fand-235 to form 'Y a stepped Acollectingch'amberi240-i i .-.Itl'willigbe Y Y readilyfunderstood uponinspection-:of thewligu-re that-. .the ,bucket Vvmember ,210previdingwtheadjacent'collectingV chambersVA 2,15 andi-220 isswhollyrindependentpfabucket Sleeve 204 includes a i graders' niente'23o providing the annular comming chambaA 240, but that the respectivebucket structures are telescoped one upon the other and upon thecentrally located riser 302 to provide a very compact slurry collectingarrangement. Although 4not illustrated in the figure, it will be readilyunderstood by -those skilled in the art that the annular -oor members orbase plates 214, 216 and 234 of the respective collecting chambers areprovided with drop-out or outlet conduit means for discharging thecollected slurry materials from the respective chambers. Preferably, theoors of the collecting chambers are lined with rubber matting, 217, 219and 237, respectively.

A particular feature of the instant invention is' the utilization of theslurry collecting structure to support a pair of relatively movableslurry splitter elements S05 and 510. Slurry splitter element 510comprises an annular rubber Ilip seated on the upper edge of sleeve Wall233 of the bucket 230 and splitter element 505 comprises a :similarstructure seated on the upper edge of Wall 212 of bucket 210. Thearrangement is such that telescoping :movement of bucket 210 relative tobucket 230, or viceversa, serves to change the relative positions of thesplitter elements 505 and 510 with respect to each other and :therebywith respect to the eflluent discharged from the surrounding sluices320, 340, etc., as will be better appreciated by reference to Fig. l ofthe drawings.

' This relative -telescoping movement is readily provided for accordinglto the instant invention by utilizing the central sleeve Wall 213 ofbucket 210 as a control connection. For this purpose, sleeve 213 is maderelatively Llong to extend vertically upwardly into proximity with thecontrol mechanism 400, see Fig. l, and at its upper end is provided withradially projecting pegs or pins -408 extending through the elongatedslots 206 in the concentric sleeve 204. As heretofore indicated, pins480 :are adapted to be gripped by the bifurcated ends of conttrolelement 405 whereby movement of control rod 430 will move sleeve 213 andtherewith splitter 505.

The sleeve 204 in turn integrally carries an annular plate or tlangemember 206 which is adapted to be removably connected, via nuts 209,with a plurality of degpending bolt members 20S extending from sleeveWall 233 of bucket 230. Since sleeve wall 233 supports the splitterelement 510, movement of sleeve 204 and wall 233 will 'ch-ange therelative position of splitter element 510 with respect -to splitterelement 505 and the eluent from the surrounding sluices. The relativerange of movement of the respective splitter elements can be readily andeasily changed 'by adjusting the position of the bolts 208 relative toplate 206, via nuts 209.

From the above description, it will be readily appreciated that therespective relative movements of the slurry splitter elements 505 and510 are directly and immediately controlled by the relative arcuatepositions of control elements 405 and 410. It will further be understood.that lcontrol elements 405 and 410 can be easily locked in a :setposition -via the manual control structure 400.

Another important feature of the present invention is :the formation ofrthe splitter elements 505 and 510 from :a relatively soft rubber, suchas the automotove tire caricass types, by extrusion. This form ofsplitter element has been found to provide a useful operational lifewhich is more than treble that obtainable with metallic splitterelements. A further important feature yof the invention is theconfiguration of the splitter element, per se, to present inclinedsurface Walls 511 and 512 angularly related with respect to the verticaland horizontal, respectively, by an angle 6 of approximately 20 degrees.This presents the edge of the splitter to the eflluent stream at anang-le of about 45. With this particular construc- `tionalconfiguration, the splitter elements are adapted to movevertically withrespect to the eluent stream discharged from the outlet edges of thepinched sluice 'units for a relatively lengthy extent withoutdeleteriously affecting the separation action. A particular feature ofthe specific inclined wall surface arrangement for the splitter elementsis the elimination of any tendency to cause turbulence at the splitteredge whereby rapid and highly elicient separation action is obtainable.In this respect, cognizance should be taken of the fact that Very slightchanges in the position of the splitter elements relative to the eluentdischarged from the frusto-conical array will often determine whetherthe separation proceeds effectively or not.

It will further be appreciated from the above detailed description thatthe instant improved slurry separator arrangement provides aconstruction which is simply and easily supported by a minimum ofcomponent parts. In this respect, examination of Fig. l of the drawingswill show that the surge tank and riser pipe of the slurry supply ordistributor system 300 is independently suspended by support ring 120,the distributor being centrally and adjustably mounted with respectthereto by the clamping screws 124. At the same time, it will be notedthat Athe control structure l400 and therewith the slurry collectingstructure 200 and its integral slurry splitter arrangement 505, 5-10also are supported from ring 120 via bracket 401, and `the connectionbetween the rockable control elements 405, 410 and the respective sleevemembers 204 and 213.- This unique suspension support simpliiiesinstallation and replacement operations and implements movement of theentire separator arrangement as an yintegrated unit, as for example, bymeans of a travelling crane coupled to support ring 120 for lifting thesupport ring and therewith support structure 100 as a unitary structure.The effect of this arrangement will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art as being of great advantage in those installationsutilizing a plurality-of isolated granular slurry repositories, as forexample, as are frequently provided in the art by utilizing naturalquarries, subterranean pits, and the like as storage basins for rawminerals.

Yet a further and outstanding feature of the present invention is thesimplication of the construction of the annular collecting bucketmembers 210 and 230. As will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art, the slurry splitter elements 50S and 510 are adapted toseparate the effluent as it is discharged from the apex of thetriangular pinched sluice members 320, 340, etc., into an annulardischarge zone of free fall and to collect the separated fractions, asconcentrates in the bucket 230 and middlings and tailings in therespective chambers 220 and 215 of bucket 210. Since the operation is acontinuous one, it will be apparent that means must be provided forredirecting the separated fractions from the relatively limited volumeof the respective collecting chambers. Prior to the present invention,it was common practice to form collecting members with inclined floorsserving to gravity feed the collected material to an Y outlet at thelowest point. As will be readily understood,

this required complicated and expensive techniques in forming thecollecting members. It has been discovered, however, that suchinnovation is unnecessary and indeed undesirable. The particulararrangement illustrated herein obtains the same desirable constantdelivery rate (or through-put) while maintaining the oor surfaces 214,216 and 234 level and applying a cover matting of relatively softrubber, preferably of the automotive tire carcass type. This will bemore readily understood by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings in whichthe annular bucket members are illustrated as including rubber floormatting 251, 252 and 253. It will further be understood that suitabledrop-out means such as an opening (not shown) is provided in the floorof each of the chambers.

With this arrangement the euent discharged from the pinched sluice unitsinto the respective collecting chambers of the respective bucket membersserves to build up a sloping pile of granular material, having itsareas@ greatest height .180 fromztlie dropout openings and. graduallyttapering along an :,annularlpat.. tto 'the 9339.112 itself- :practicefit has .been Cobserved .that his innatel 13ital., Whother'valuable:mineral such as the aoone@atfatesY eolleeted in;bueket.-231l,ortatmiature ofwaluahlemiueral Y andA genaue material tas 4is Ycollected ,in chamber 2&5,

Y conditions, acidity foffthe slurry, -etcl of the 'bucket .struc-Vture, iper se, -is minimized ,by provision of the rubber V'matting '251,'252, i253. In most instances .it `is preferred that "the :concentratescollecting ,chamber include two drop openings, spaced `180 apart,wherehysthe collected siurrylfraetion'need Ytravel a maximumldistancetof`only 907 tto 'thevdropout point.V Y

ylasrnany.apparently .Widely diiferent embodimentstof this-Linvention-maybefmade .without departing fromzthe l spiritand .scopefhe'reo it isto zbefunderstood thatfthis inventionlis lnot to be ilirnited,Yexcept-as in the Y appended claims. Y iWhatfiS claimed is: l

and .an -Liutegral .augularly ,extending naorplleral Splitter Y l.' Ina'separating :unit foret-Separating valuable minerals ifrom :a slurrycontaining Yminerali;caring ores .in-

eludingegan'gue materials,l the combination ofaverticallyextendinggecnduit 'for idelivering ia slurry -vertically Vuprwardly, aseparatingebatterly including a -pluralityV of pinched-Slice' Itypetroughs-arranged iin an annular Y,ar-

ray about said conduit andleachthaving raised` converging sidewalls anda sloping floor surfaceto'therebyprovide e the l separating? batterywith theV Vshape of antinverted frus-V trumV Yof VVa cone -saidseparating `unit having supporting means Vfor mountingthe-saidgbatteryand-said conduit-in an Vuprightposition,distributing*means-connected to said conduit Yandlpositioned tocooperate With/the -said separating batterytfordelivering theslurry-theretofaplurality `'of concentric slurry-splitting-members.surrounding saidv cond-uit, each -member Aincluding. a Atubulardepending sleeve portion concentrically mounted about 'saidtubularccnduitfand'including 4atttits vertical vedge a circularfslurryLsplitterfelementjormed of rubber and having .converging Wall'surfacesdefining a splittenedge Ydirectedradially'outwardly andfupwardlylat anangle ofV t approXimatelyAS" from sai'dsleeveyand collectingmeansassociated kwith ,eachA said 'sleeve :and V'splitter rele'rnentlforindependently `receiving jfractions 'of .fthe minerals and ganguedmaterialseas they .arcseparated-fromsaidfminf eral-bearing ores byisaidsplitter elements upon discharge of sai'd slurry from Vsai'dsluicesintoa zonefof free fall.

2. Y.Inra *separatingl unit l for separating valuable mine erals frommineralbearing V,ores Lincluding .gangue matea Separatingtbatterylsurroundu rials, the combination of a vertically.extendingconduit,l a l separatingl lbattery surroundingsaid conduit Vandincluding :a plurality' of Vinclined Ypinched-sluice type troughsarranged 'inV an annular array .about Ysaid-conduit, distributingmeansconnected toxsaidlconduit and positionedY l tocooperate'withlthe*said'rseparating batteryfor. deliver-Ying-:thefslurry thereto, aeplurality-y of, slurii/splitting-memlYbers,surroundingsaid condit,.leach member inelnding'a tubular`dependingl Vsleeve yportion angl-anintegral angular'lyextendingfperipheral splitter lip-pcsitioned/at -ardstance from .theapexof said sluices infa. zoneof free fall,

' meansfassociated with ca chllsplitter element foi-'collecting l Vtheslurry zin ,separatedif'ractions Vfrom `the splitter' elements,andesuspensiorn means forsupportingthe s aidbat-V te'rylinlanuprightposition, said, suspension means includ e ing straeture'iformounting leetin a nre terrained .butfttarfialale emitido e ve tothdischargin slurry t l liu Qa seizfatite fuiit for emanating -S'alubloiiiu? ,erals trom; slurry ,ooutaini,ug mitteralebeariug-.ote

oludiug gauguematoeials, the eombiuatiourofaarottloall eX udine:delivery foonduit., a `separating batter-.y eouoeuf trrelly :mountedabout said toonduit ladine le -rzluratllity ',ofminehedfsluilo traetroughs artaugedeiu au annular array gebaut said @enduit tto donn au:annular fsluraygdischarge. zene, distributing :means dueluding :iddstudent feed pines roouneoted tto, saldi-tubular .eouduit andinositioned Vtocoroperate with 'the respective troughs tarde-r liner theislam/ thereto ear-plurality :afslaan-Splitting members -.surreundiugsaid V:tubular conduit oaohvnaid' member' -rineluding :avtubular'deinenditrg sleere mottion liptploisitiened in 'fthe said:annular :.slurluf.. l,is.ohaese:none` slur-:ry collecting meanslintegrally splitter elements fineluding plural y :of trelativelytele'-Asecpingly movable .bucket members Vfor collecting .fsepaf Y ratedfractions Yof the slurry discharged .tinto Said Jeong,

and suspension means for. :supporting :said ibattofy Vin aan uprightposition fineludingA structure removably seating l saiddistributor.-exneans.Y i l l Y Y Y A. IIL-'a separating unit fiorseparatingavaluable minerals from a :slurryreonta-ningminenal-bearingfoies including ygangue materials, ethe combination of a'vertically.; extending delivery couduinaaseparating battery coneau..to-ally mounted vfabout said conduit includ' g .a plnralityapfpineherhsluieentyne@troughs:arrangedfin-an annular-arrayabeutrsaid':eenduitftp term an 4...man1-ar fslurryydiseherae nendent:feed e 'pipes eeonneeted tto said tubular conduit `and :poS 'oued Zone,distributingV means ,including Vind to cooperate 'with the .frespeetive.ftreualis ftodehiyer th slur-ry lthe to; l, f 'lum-spl' tin-e A-b.surmundxngfs dtubular ouduitfeaehtsald tu other @ladine-ezt ,uleredeneu',nafsleeuefportou nd:

Seidl @litter Said:1aettery-. auuorieht nos ineludug' struetuteftoremovably. seat'uglseid dieta means, andeoutroltrmeaussupportedsfromtseidfdeli elonduitandf-iueludl-ug etnair-QLfPiVOte-lllyanouutedonf trol levers ,.-fr'espeotvely ConnectedtoYY'the said splttlugememaers, i au: elongated ,eude: btaoket-.hay nelongated slot, manual control-rods'associatedeontrolmembers@audtptoeetiusfthreughfsaidslot and means.associated,lwithueachsaid:contr ouallylooldugzsaid rodtotsedfbreoltetriale, '--theotabinetouaof a :vertically extendingConduit, A`said conduitand 'inl eludlug yalpluvralitv efiuoliued niuehedluoe tunel-,troughs arranged inan -auuulararravabdut id eodduimeaoh esaid sluice terminating at Ya fdistance from the 19th-ers toottleuratiou ofear iuverted rrust 'ugtmeaus eonueoted tosddeou operatewith, thelsadeseperating batf slurryfsplit lipynosit-ieuedfat@distancefrom .thel apex of 'the splitter Y Ssoeiated fwithrsaid f Chatelet-,one, slurry' lyteleseortugly Y steeper ede-trae# hargedeinto s 1d -zoue,,Sueizeueiou ,a `v,sepz irating uni-t for separating-,valuable ljeralsefrorn` mineral-b .ring ores tinoludiugleauaue alta-te-V ,l,gnmemberstsurrouudng said,oolullilt.eaofhVY Vmetuber including `a.tubular denendugesleeve velution position relative to the dischargingslurry, and control means supported from said delivery conduit andincluding a pair of pivotaliy mounted cont-rol levers respectivelyconnected to the said slurry-splitting members, an elongated guidebracket having an elongated slot, manual control rods associated withsai-d control members and projecting through said slot of said bracket,and means associated with each said control rod for frictionally lockingsaid -rod to said bracket.

6. A separating unit as set -forth in claim l in which said slurrysplitter members and said collecting means are formed as an integratedstructure, said collecting means Afurther comprising concentricallymounted yannullar bucket members, and means associated with saidsuspension supporting means for suspending said delivery conduit, saidsplitter members and said collecting means from ya common point.

7. A separating unit as set forth in -cla-im 1 including :a bracketsuspended from said delivery conduit, -a pair of pivotal controlelements supported by said bracket, means connecting respective ones ofsaid control elements to respective ones of Isaid plurality ofslurrysplitting members, a control rod connect-ed with each said:control element, a vguide bracket including an elongated slotpositioned over said control rod, and means carried by each said control-rod for frictionally :locking it in predetermined positions in saidslot whereby the relative position of said slurry-splitting members aredetermined with respect to said slurry discharge zone.

8. A separating unit as set forth in claim 6 in which lsaid means yforlocking said control rods in said slot comprise -a movable handle memberassociated with each said rod, a ange carried by said handle andpositioned to overlie :at least -a portion of said bracket on one facethereof, ya second flange associated with each said control rod on theother side of said bracket and coupling means connecting each said-handle with each said control rod -for optionally moving said flangemembers into frictional engagement with said bracket.

No references cited.

